citations per 100 inspection hours
ⓘThis rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.
Rate withheld: 788 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mojave Pit has $51K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 contested dockets.
Penalty disposition
ⓘDifferences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$51K
proposed penalties
$51K
current assessed
$51K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
98 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $20K in penalties contested before the Commission, $20K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-11-05.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
ⓘShares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
When citations were contested
ⓘContesting a citation before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is a lawful right. These figures state the public outcomes of that process, from MSHA's Contested Violations file.
1citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 100%
100%
S&S designation survived the contest
ⓘCounts a Significant & Substantial citation as surviving when a settlement or judge's decision kept the designation, or the contest was dismissed or defaulted so the citation stands as issued. Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.
of 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$20K proposed, $20K after decisions · industry: 39%
Source: MSHA Contested Violations file (public record), updated weekly. A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record. Latest contest filed 2010-02-04.
Contested penalties
ⓘA reduction or dismissal at the Commission is a lawful outcome of contesting a proposed penalty. Figures are the proposed amount and the amount upheld in the docket's decision.
Largest penalties this mine contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
Health sampling
ⓘA sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.
Metal and nonmetal contaminants (personal samples)
ⓘMany samples are screening measurements of substances with no applicable exposure limit; they are counted as samples but excluded from every over-limit figure. Over-limit shares use only limit-tested samples.
Last sampled: 2026-04-23
17%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
14
samples
6
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz61 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg8
Show the individual readings (14)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2019-08-06
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.41
1.34
1.05
Laborer, Bullgang
2026-04-23
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2024-11-05
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.34
1.3
0.26
Laborer, Bullgang
2023-10-25
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Washer Operator
2019-08-06
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.39
0.77
0.51
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2015-05-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2015-05-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2015-05-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2009-03-25
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-03-25
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2009-03-25
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2004-09-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.84
1.5
0.56
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-09-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
0.98
0.24
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-09-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.38
1.07
0.36
Cleanup Man
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly. Metal/nonmetal contaminant figures come from MSHA's Personal Health Samples and Area Samples files (public record), updated weekly.
Mojave Pit recorded 9.48 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘThis rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
9.48
total case rate
9.48
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In California, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.42 cases per 100 workers that year.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2025 *
9.48
9.48
0.000
2024 *
9.19
9.19
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
8.04
0.00
0.000
2018 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
9
2025
10
2024
10
2023
9
2022
10
2021
12
2020
5
2019
8
2018
12
2017
7
2016
6
2015
6
2014
4
2013
3
2012
8
2011
8
2010
8
2009
8
2008
9
2007
6
2006
15
2005
10
2004
12
2003
10
2002
7
2001
6
2000
10
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mojave Pit sits in Kern County, California, where the Census mining category is 2.3% of county employment.
Local economic context
ⓘCounty figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.
Kern County, California · Population 910,433
2.3%
Mining share of county employment
$67,660
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
Quarterly safety rates
ⓘCitations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2026 Q2
4,200
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
3,996
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
4,546
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
6,960
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
4,779
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
4,820
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
5,130
2
0
389.9
2024 Q3
6,436
0
0
0.0
Show 95 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
5,553
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
4,651
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
3,767
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
4,504
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
5,764
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
4,727
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
5,173
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
5,267
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
5,434
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
5,973
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
6,749
2
0
296.3
2021 Q3
7,241
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
5,367
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
5,507
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
5,407
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
958
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
1,327
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
1,981
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
1,563
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
4,871
5
3
1026.5
2019 Q2
4,610
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
5,091
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
6,823
1
0
146.6
2018 Q3
7,073
1
0
141.4
2018 Q2
6,087
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
5,319
1
0
188.0
2017 Q4
5,017
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
3,927
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
2,660
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
2,546
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
2,749
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
3,590
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
2,501
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
2,938
1
0
340.4
2015 Q4
3,424
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
3,686
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
3,220
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
2,336
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
2,583
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
2,748
2
0
727.8
2014 Q2
1,624
1
0
615.8
2014 Q1
1,648
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
1,702
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
1,902
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
1,713
2
0
1167.5
2013 Q1
1,718
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
1,722
2
0
1161.4
2012 Q3
2,629
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
4,813
3
0
623.3
2012 Q1
6,499
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
5,359
2
1
373.2
2011 Q3
4,735
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
3,969
1
0
252.0
2011 Q1
2,683
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
3,647
2
1
548.4
2010 Q3
4,789
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
2,940
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
3,393
3
1
884.2
2009 Q4
3,904
8
5
2049.2
2009 Q3
4,217
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
4,323
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
4,007
5
2
1247.8
2008 Q4
3,640
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
4,979
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
4,496
9
5
2001.8
2008 Q1
4,297
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
4,008
8
0
1996.0
2007 Q3
2,971
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
0
1
0
2007 Q1
2,600
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
3,378
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
3,356
5
0
1489.9
2006 Q2
2,276
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
2,460
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
2,528
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
4,203
14
1
3331.0
2005 Q2
2,913
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
376
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
2,022
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
5,037
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
4,767
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
3,073
2
1
650.8
2003 Q4
2,853
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
2,353
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
1,336
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
2,726
2
1
733.7
2002 Q1
72
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
0
0
0
2001 Q3
278
1
0
3597.1
2001 Q2
2,839
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
2,278
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
2,456
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
1,215
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
2,777
13
4
4681.3
2000 Q1
3,443
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
22 on file
2025 · 1 incident
August 23, 2025CA · Metal/Non-Metaldryer operator, kiln operator, dry plant operator, fluid operator, bed dryer operatorMACHINERY
Early morning, still dark outside. Operator made a mistake during start up and panicked. Tried to stop the plant after stacker malfunction and ran over uneven ground "water ruts" on backhoe. Injured back during rough ride and damaged the tire and rim.
2024 · 1 incident
October 22, 2024CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee traversing across plant site, encountered wet material and slipped rolling ankle. Employee was taken to the clinic where a diagnosis was made of a sprained ankle and fractured fibula.
2021 · 1 incident
April 5, 2021CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was walking down a stairwell and lost their footing missing the step EE intended to hit and landing on the next step with their right foot spraining the ankle.
2019 · 1 incident
April 15, 2019CA · Metal/Non-Metalminer, prospector, necMACHINERY
While shoveling by a shaker screen a rock came off and hit miner in the left shoulder
2017 · 1 incident
December 18, 2017CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was attempting to cut a belt with a cutting tool. Employee cut toward himself. The tool slipped from what he was cutting and stuck his finger.
2009 · 2 incidents
July 7, 2009CA · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorOTHER
On 4-27-09 EE says that he hurt his lower back while moving a metal rack, he did not report the injury at that time. On 4-28-09 the pain returned while operating his truck. Doctor's diagnisis: Lower back strain/spasm.
2005 · 1 incident
May 18, 2005CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
SHOVELING OUT TAIL PULLEY IN SURGE TUNNEL, WAS ON HIS WAY OUT, SLIPPED FELL AGAINST TUNNEL WALL.
1992 · 2 incidents
December 31, 1992CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
I NAME CLAIMS HE INJURED HIS BACK ON 12-8-88 HE DID NOT NOTIFY SUPERVISOR UNTIL 1-19-89 DISCUSSED WITH MSHA TURNED OUT TO BE INDUSTRIUAL ACCIDENT THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THIS HAPPEN ED ON JOB OR AT HOME
July 7, 1988CA · Metal/Non-Metalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPL WAS GOING TO STOP LEAK ON 1 1/2 SHOOT WHEN HIS FEET SLIPPED AND STROOK SOM ANGLE IRON FRACTURED 3 RIBS THIS REPORT BEING SUBMITTED BECAUSE OF MSHA PART 50 AUDIT VM
March 18, 1988CA · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS